Loose Plunger Tube

After shooting my Colt 1991A1 today I was happily cleaning and oiling my newest 1911 and I found that the plunger tube is loose. The gun doesn't even have a thousand rounds through it yet.
Is there anything I can do with this short of buying a staking tool or taking it to a smith? If anything I would prefer to get a tool from Brownells and do it myself. I can always hang on to the tool since I have several other 1911's.

I noticed that the plunger tube on my Springfield Micro G.I. was loose today so I took it into the local smith. 10 minutes later and 10 dollars shorter and I was on my way. Looked very simple, if you have the staking tool.

I ordered the staking tool from Brownells. I hope there isn't a problem with deforming the tube while restaking it.
Of all the things I've done on 1911's, this is a new one to me.
Anyone ever use these staking tools before?

I ordered the staking tool from Brownells. I hope there isn't a problem with deforming the tube while restaking it.
Of all the things I've done on 1911's, this is a new one to me.
Anyone ever use these staking tools before?

There is a possibility of deforming the tube. That's why Brownells also sells a tool that inserts into and supports the plunger tube.

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Bear in mind that if the plunger tube legs are short (mine were) or if the holes are not countersunk from the inside (mine weren't) just cranking on the staking tool will not have much effect. You have to have enough metal for the tool to rivet out and a place for the rivet head to spread.

I let my gunsmith buddy take care of stuff like that for me. I have been referred to as "ham-handed" so I only do stuff I am confident in. This plunger tube issue is why I ordered the integral tube on my Caspian frame.

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The problem I have is that I know of no reputable gunsmiths in my area and I don't want to ship it just for this.
I've done plenty of work on 1911's in the past and if all is right with this I should be able to handle it.
I looked at the inside of the frame and it is countersunk and the legs of the tube should be ok as long as there is pressure on the tube pushing it into the frame.
If not I wasted forty dollars on a staking tool and will have to either get another tube or find a smith.

A dab of high end Loctite won't hurt.
Now you have the tool, you can be useful to other shooters thereabouts. All you have to do now is learn to do the countersink where required. Brownell's used to sell a tiny little inside reamer for the job, but it was expensive and delicate. Most gunsmiths just use a ball end on a Dremel. It takes care not to scar up the inside of the gun but is quick when you learn how.

I usually get things from Brownells within a week of ordering.
I think the amount of countersink on the frame looks sufficient.
I'll know in about a week.
I have some very good locktite that is permanent and strong but I think that would be a last resort on this.

Ok, I finally had time to work on this gun.
I got the staking tool a while ago but I've been working a lot of hours for the last week or so.
I couldn't get the plunger tube off of the frame. It was just loose enough to see it move a bit but I would not come off and I didn't want to get too rough with it.
The holes looked to have plenty of countersink so I put permanent locktight on the tube and on the legs (after degreasing) and tried the tool.
It was a b---h to get the rear hole and the front one was easy. It made it very tight and I will let the locktight dry for 24 hours before reassembling everything.
The tool from Brownells worked great and I checked to see if I had deformed the plunger tube and it was fine.
Yeah, it cost me 40 bucks but I don't know of any good 1911 smiths around my area so I guess it was worth it.

Ok, I finally had time to work on this gun.
I got the staking tool a while ago but I've been working a lot of hours for the last week or so.
I couldn't get the plunger tube off of the frame. It was just loose enough to see it move a bit but I would not come off and I didn't want to get too rough with it.
The holes looked to have plenty of countersink so I put permanent locktight on the tube and on the legs (after degreasing) and tried the tool.
It was a b---h to get the rear hole and the front one was easy. It made it very tight and I will let the locktight dry for 24 hours before reassembling everything.
The tool from Brownells worked great and I checked to see if I had deformed the plunger tube and it was fine.
Yeah, it cost me 40 bucks but I don't know of any good 1911 smiths around my area so I guess it was worth it.

Its good to hear it worked out for you. Which tool did you use?
I've been considering the tool from EGW.

Take it to a gunsmith and have it silver soldered in place or go with Perm loctite and a good staking..

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